Jindal steel achieves three million tonnes capacity

Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, Mar 10 (UNI) Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) has achieved an annual iron-making capacity of three million tonnes with the commissioning of a new blast furnace at its plant here.

JSPL Executive Vice-President and Managing Director Naveen Jindal said JSPL was considering further expansion to take the Raigarh plant's iron-making capacity to six million tonnes (MT) per annum.

He said the company had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government whereby it plans to invest more than Rs 35 crore in education, health care management an denvironment protection and other infrastructure over the next five years.

An Industrial Training Institute (ITI) is being set up at Rs 20 crore at the industrial park to impart vocational training in different trades while a hospital with modern facilities is nearing completion, he added.

State Chief Minister Raman Singh inaugurated the new blast furnace, which has a hot metal capacity of 1.25 million tonnes (MT) per annum, at a function in Chhattisgarh yesterday.

Dr Singh lauded the efforts being made by the Jindal group for the development of the backward region as well as for protecting environment by maintaining high standards in pollution control.

He expressed the hope that JSPL would continue contribution for local area and community development.

Later, he also dedicated 'O P Jindal Kelo Setu', a steel girder bridge, built at a cost of more than Rs three crore, on the Kelo river.

The Rs 3,000-crore-company has business interests in the state in steel production, power generation, coal mining and diamond exploration.

Jindal Power Ltd, a subsidiary of JSPL, is setting up a coal based 1000 MW (4X 250 MW) Super Thermal Power Plant near village Tamnar. Its first unit of 250 MW is expected to be synchronised in a couple of months and the complete project will be commissioned during the current financial year.

UNI